viruses show both living and nonliving character explain
Answers
There is actually quite a bit of debate as to whether or not a virus actually is alive or not.
Main point in favor: it self-replicates in a manner that is wholly subject to the laws of biological evolution.
Main point against: it possesses no independent metabolism of its own.
Both of the above criteria have been proposed as part of an official definition for “life”.
But here’s a big “dirty” secret of Biology:
We don’t actually know what “life” is, precisely. Or at least we don’t actually have a consensus as to what “life” is, and no official, universally accepted definition of the term.
This is an inherent issue with human attempts at classification in biology. At the finest end of the spectrum, we don’t have a perfect non-arbitrary distinction between different species. At the broadest end of the spectrum, we don’t have a perfect non-arbitrary distinction between life and non-life.
Because it turns out that the whole of biology is a gradual spectrum with no true distinct categorizations, and at every level of classification, even the biggest one of all, the borderline cases are fuzzy.
Yes, it is true that viruses possess and show both living as well as non living characteristics.
Non-living Characteristics:
Viruses are inert and dead when outside the body of the host. They can be precipitated and crystallized.
Without entering a host cell they can't show living properties like growth, development, reproduction, etc.
Living Characteristics :
Once entered into a Host cell they behave like a living organism and show growth, development, reproduction, etc. They also possess genetic material which is DNA within them.
If subjected to radioactive chemicals, they also show mutations.